I have heard many complaints and discussion on this matter from my Marma friends why Marma people use the Mughal titles like Chowdery, Talukder, Rwaja and so on. I understand of their opinions and feelings how they feel degraded
seeing Marma people are still servants of Mughal administrations by
using their given titles. Mughal empire as a huge empire has adopted administrative system dividing the power and states to different people. One of them is landowner administrative system where people are given titles to control land and charge taxes. Some those titles are really titles for landowners. So those title owners are nothing than farmers in these days.
It is sad to see many of educated people using the Mughal titles instead of their original title Marma who are blind by status in the names. Actually the real fact is there is no use of using those titles in the modern day. I personally don't care whether you are Chowdery or Talukder. If you really want good status in the society then you get to work something good for the society not by showing your title. A title can't give any reward unless you show your actions. So it is not actually the titles that bring honour and respect to from the society but it is your honorary actions.
These are my reason why we should not use them.
1. Those titles are alien not of our ancestors.
2. Why should we use enemy titles after all we lost everything to them in their military invasion.
3. Those titles are no useful than creating discrimination in the society.
Marma People
A window to the world of the Marma people
Labels
- Art and Lifestyle (1)
- Culture and Festival (1)
- History (4)
- Social Issue (2)
- Thoughts (1)
Pages
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
An Introduction to Marma People
Marma peoples are 2nd largest ethnic group in Bangladesh over 210,000 population just within Bangladesh. Majority of them live in Bandarban, Khaggrachari, and
Rangamati with two prominent kings at two major areas of Bandarban and Khaggrachari. The cultures of Marma people are not so different from Burmese and South-east Asians. The dialect and script are also similar to Burmse. It is believed that Marmas are descendents of Arakanese of Burma(Western Burma); Arakan state. Not long before, the title of Marma was coined by Bomong Raja as he was the chief and king of Marma. Marma or Arakanese used to govern the area of Chittagong even to extent of Dhaka up to 16th century as the kingdom of Arakan was expanded and annexed to Bangladesh. According to Rajamala, a historical record of Tripura kingdom mentioned of Marma/Mog kings ruling Tripura state before 2nd-3rd A.D.and after. They were powerful in those areas as well in Burma before the invasion of Mughal and British empire. Despite the lost of their kingdoms, Marma people still remain to live in Chittagong, amidst the majority of Muslim they are strong Theravada Buddhists with much influence of Burmese Buddhism.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
My Father's Banana Education
My Father's Banana Education
By Thwee Sa Ching Marma
During my schooling life, it was the most boring period in my life. I always
cut school and joined with my cowboy friends. It seemed to me that they
were having a great time. They did all kinds of adventurous things.
Sometimes I complained to my parents why they could not buy a cow so
that I could look after it. One of the best things I liked to do was cooking
in the forest. It was so exciting! One will not believe it! Nowadays, still I love cooking!
Education is everywhere beyond age, place and gender. |
My parents often punished me because I cut the school. One of the teachers in my school was very close friend of my father. This teacher always complained to my father about me. That’s why I got more punishments. Not only that I wasted a lot of exercise books, making winds-trucks was my favorite pastime. So, I wasted them a lot in doing that with my friends.
My father often scolded me and even he did not give any exercise books when asked. He often told me his story about how he struggled during his schooling life. He never got any chances to complete schooling . He studied only up to grade five. His parents did not allow him to continue. At that time exercise books hardly found. The exercise books they used were ‘banana leaves’. The wooden- ashes were their pens to write. If their teachers gave them exercises in the class, they had to run to the banana garden.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Black Magic: The Silent Weapon of Marma
Black Magic: The
Silent Weapon of Marma
The
main reasons behind murdering of another fellow being silently are competition,
jealousy, revenge, and hatred. In the
competitive society some people don’t want to see success of another person
and build jealousy towards those successful people. They don't have the virtue of cultivating joy in other's progress. Sadly, some think revenge is the only way of
defeat and win but they win neither.
These are some of psychological causes and environmental conditions that cause
the use of black magic to kill another person.To
do all these process of assassinating, first the person has to go Mantra- man
(bhwodoo) and he/she has to tell all the details; to whom he/she wants to
execute and how. It seems as part of rituals, some physical parts of the
opponent is necessary like hair, cloth, etc and the given written spell has to
be buried somewhere in front, back or corner of the house of the opponent secretly.
However the effect can be happened or not, depend on the qualities of the opponent. It seems sometimes it does not work to virtuous persons; one who follows five precepts of Buddhism or person with protective charm; a tattoo on the body with protective Mantra and restriction of eating certain meat.
This
is one of the serious issues that young Marma generation addresses it often. In
the eyes of young generation, it is the cause of decline of the society and
schism of unity. How many people will die in the course of destructive jealousy,
revenge and black magic? How many days will it take to resistance?
Figure 4: Mudita or sympathetic joy is the greatest conqueror over jealousy not black magic |
Monday, May 7, 2012
The Magh
The Magh
The Magh peoples live in the area of Chittatgong of Bangladesh, Tripura state of India and Arakan state of Myanmar. Magh is mostly referred to Arakanese peoples including its later decedents; Marma and Magh of Arakanese. The nickname Magh is given to Arakanese by Bengalis to indicate pirates of Arakanese.The
existence of Magh might be probably in 14-15th century. The Maghs of
Bangladesh perceived the term Magh as rather offensive and insulting name. So
they changed and adopted new name Marma which denotes Marma were inhabitants of
Myanmar. But the Magh of Tripura state, India remained as Magh as before until
now. Therefore, Magh and Marma are just two different names denoting the same type
of people. However i will demonstrate
some different opinions and assumptions on the term Magh in below paragraphs.
1. According
to Arakanese chronicle, it seems that Arakanese are originally from Magadha
kingdom of India. The kings of Arakanese kings are decedents of Magadhi origin.
So the term Magh is derived from Magadha.
2. Another
assumption is not Arakanese or Marma explanation, it is rather alien
explanation; Bengali. The Arakanese people before known as Marma, they were
called Magh for their notorious activities of capturing Bengalis and sold in
slave market; East India Company.
3. According
to Francis Bunchana observation, the term Mog/Magh is
called to all tribes and nations who are non-Hindu and non-Muslim including Bengali Barua by
Bengalis Muslim.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Marma House
Marma
House
Figure 1: Marma eco-friendly house |
The unique thing about
their houses is they build their houses joining with veranda above the ground
where the whole house is supported by pillars below. Some houses are founded on
the ground and veranda is above the ground in parallel. As the houses are above
the ground so they need ladders to climb up the houses and ladders are
sometimes made of timber woods, bamboos, or big logs cut with stairs. The
reasons behind this kind structure are to avoid water and drying crops on the
veranda to avoid from hens and other animals.
Figure 2: Marma calls it Mran inn (Above house) |
Finally a Marma house
is done. Isn’t it easy and simple?
Sangrain Festival: Marma New Year
Sangrain Festival:
Marma New Year
Figure 1: To Marma rain is symbol of respect, prosperity and blessing. In the celebration of Sangrain, we just don't flash water to each other, it is flashing and wishing for rain of prosperity. |
Sangrain
is New Year. It falls in the middle of
the month April. Before the days of Sangrain, they clean and decorate their
houses because to Marmas Sangrain is an auspicious and significant festival of
the year in secular and religious level. The way they celebrate is not much
different from Burmese and Thai.
Figure 2: Winner is one who reaches the top oily bamboo post and take the price. |
These
are some of stuff they do in the celebration of New Year. They make traditional
food and cookies. They play various kinds of games and the most enjoyable and
important is flashing water to each other. People mostly young boys and girls
enjoy water festival. They organize and gather from various parts of the
country in one particular area to play water festival. Anybody can join the
festival disregard of their creed, group and so on. It is opportunity for
everyone to make friendship even with stranger. On this auspicious occasion everyone
is friend. Enemy and mistakes are forgiven and become friend. Everyone is determined
to start with new hope and new way of life.
Figure 3: They too perform cultural show and traditional dance |
They
also go to the temple, bath the Buddha statues and eight precept observers, and
take five precepts and circumbulate the pagoda around all together. The monks
in the temple take this chance to remind the dharma; the right way of living
and practicing as Buddhist. The elders are worshiped and they bless the young
ones for bright future.
By the way, there is one popular Sangrain and touch the
hearts of Marma. Everyone, one and big ones, knows this song because it is sung in
every Sangrain. It was composed by Ven. U Chala Bhante. Let me give some ideas of
the song. The song begins thus in Marma language.
Sangrainma yinyeyinya-
Let’s get together in Sangrain
Rekhajai kaipame –
And play water
O yin koro o
eme-miriro – Oh brothers and sisters
Lagai lagai chepyo-gaimaare
– Come, come let’s rejoice
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